CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for drinking places in Great Falls, MT
Drinking places in the Great Falls, MT metro area: 44 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 9-person team.
- Establishments
- 44CBP 2023
- Employees
- 406mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 52.1U.S. 12.0
- Rank
- 162nd of 740areas by count
The bar market in Great Falls, MT
County Business Patterns counts 44 drinking places (NAICS 722410, Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)) in the Great Falls, MT metro area for 2023. They employed 406 people in mid-March and paid $7,325,000 in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 162nd out of 740 areas with published figures for drinking places.
Measured against its 84,523 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 52.1 drinking places per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 12.0, so Great Falls, MT is 333.6% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 9.2 employees, compared with 10.6 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $18,042, 29.6% below the national $25,612.
| Measure | Great Falls, MT | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 44 | 541 | 40,835 |
| Mid-March employees | 406 | 4,969 | 432,542 |
| Annual payroll | $7,325,000 | $101,580,000 | $11,078,437,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 9.2 | 9.2 | 10.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $18,042 | $20,443 | $25,612 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 52.1 | 47.6 | 12.0 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at drinking places in Great Falls, MT
Of the drinking places in Great Falls, MT that had employees in March 2023, 20.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 38.7%). 61.4% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 9 | 20.5% | 38.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 18 | 40.9% | 27.4% |
| 10–19 employees | 12 | 27.3% | 20.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 5 | 11.4% | 11.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.4% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a bar in Great Falls, MT has to catch
Bars and taverns take calls about events, private parties and hours, often when the room is too loud to hear the phone. Capturing those calls helps book parties. That holds for drinking places in Great Falls, MT as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to drinking places in Great Falls, MT:
- A band calls about booking a gig.
- A guest calls about reserving space for a birthday.
- A customer calls about a lost item.
Business texting for drinking places
Bars text event reminders and party confirmations.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
What a phone system costs a bar in Great Falls, MT
The average bar in Great Falls, MT has 9.2 employees, so a 9-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 9 users would run $270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $179.00 a month for 9 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,092 less than RingCentral for a bar in Great Falls, MT of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $179.00 | $2,148.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $171.00 | $2,052.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $207.00 | $2,484.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $224.55 | $2,694.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $243.00 | $2,916.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Local area codes for drinking places in Great Falls, MT
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 406 (41 exchanges in NANPA's file). A local number lets guests in Great Falls, MT call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | 41 | Mountain | 1947 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What drinking places in Great Falls, MT get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in Great Falls, MT is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many drinking places are there in Great Falls, MT?
Census County Business Patterns counted 44 drinking places in the Great Falls, MT metro area in 2023. They employed 406 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 9-person bar?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 9 users cost $270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $179.00.
What area code should a bar in Great Falls, MT use?
Area code 406 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a bar?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.